Ongoing mudfest in Holden

Thursday

Apr 10, 2014 at 6:00 AMApr 10, 2014 at 12:08 PM

By Dianne Williamson

If you're a Holden taxpayer, you might call it overkill that a recent selectmen's meeting included two cops and the chief of police. But considering the outbreak of rancor among board members, it's a wonder no one has summoned the National Guard.

On March 17, Selectman Chairman Robert Lavigne told police to prevent Selectman Mark Ferguson from leaving the town building with a confidential document, at which point Ferguson urged police to arrest Lavigne after the chairman followed him to his truck. Police have arrested no town official to date, although the year is young.

"We're not going to fight over a piece of paper," said Police Chief David Armstrong, who just happened to be outside the building and told his officers to let board member Mark Ferguson leave. "It was kind of a common sense thing."

The confidential document was distributed to the board during a closed executive session, but I managed to obtain a copy and if I told you where it came from I'd have to kill you. It's a letter to Chairman Robert Lavigne from Town Manager Jacquelyn Kelly, who claims she's been subjected to a "hostile environment" and "personal attacks" by an unnamed board member, but everyone including Mark Ferguson knows she's talking about Mark Ferguson.

"The Board should be aware that I consider some of the personal attacks to be sexist in nature," Kelly wrote.

"Criticisms about the look on my face or the belittling of my mood are gender-based insults."

Kelly also complained about a "heightened level of rancor and discord" during board meetings and called for an improvement in civility.

"When verbal abuse and personal attacks prevail, there can be no thoughtful and considered deliberations ... In the eyes of the public, the demeaning comments and accusations erode the credibility of our collective efforts to ensure the best municipal services for the citizens of Holden."

As noted, the letter from Kelly was distributed during a closed session to discuss "litigation," but Ferguson argued that the private meeting was illegal because it had nothing to do with litigation. He walked out with the letter; police confronted him but allowed him to leave.

Lavigne followed him out, demanding Kelly's letter, and the two men argued as Ferguson got into his truck. He closed the door on Lavigne and Lavigne flung it open, so Ferguson urged police to arrest Lavigne. By this point, I'm guessing, police were wishing they worked in the sort of safe, sane community populated by violent street thugs and drug dealers.

Selectmen have since voted to file a complaint with the state Ethics Commission against Ferguson, claiming he broke the rules by taking Kelly's letter. Not to be outdone, Ferguson filed a complaint against his colleagues with the attorney general, claiming they violated the Open Meeting Law.

"What do they expect me to do when I'm dealing with a kangaroo court?" said Ferguson, who denied making any sexist attacks on Kelly.

"This is all about politics ... I challenge the status quo and she doesn't like that. I can't help that I'm 6'4"... I've been a pain in their butt for all the right reasons."

Lavigne called the debacle "unfortunate" and said the combative Ferguson should work with his colleagues rather than against him.

"The man was breaking the law and I have a duty to protect the town," Lavigne said. "He doesn't need to be a pain in our butts ... I don't want to see us dragged through the mud any more than we already have been."

Ferguson also questioned the need for uniformed police at selectmen's meetings, and I tend to agree. With all of the back-biting and rabid antics among Holden leaders, it's time to call in the K-9 unit.